Education and training requirements
This page contains information about the education and training requirements (ETR) including quality assurance and enhancement method (QAEM) activities, approval and adaptation.
For more information about the ETR, click on the links below:
Quality Assurance and Enhancement Method activities
The GOC has been granted powers to undertake quality assurance and enhancement (sections 12 and 13 of the Act), including the approval, of qualifications leading to registration. In order to do this, the GOC uses various quality assurance tools and methods to provide assurance that education standards are being met.
For further information on the adaptation process, you can view our quality assurance and enhancement method webpage.
Seeking GOC approval for a qualification
For any education provider seeking to deliver a qualification that results in students qualifying and registering with the GOC to practise as an optical professional, they must gain GOC approval first. The absence of GOC approval could result in unsafe practitioners or students being required to retake part or all of their training.
For further information on the application process, you can view our approval webpage.
Adapting to the education and training requirements
Education providers with existing GOC approved qualifications under the old ‘handbook’ requirements are asked to submit documentation and evidence to demonstrate it will be adapted to meet our current requirements. The submission will be triaged and reviewed by GOC staff and Education Visitor Panellists (EVP) against a selection of the ETR standards. Once we are satisfied that an existing qualification is able to meet the updated education and training requirements, we will ‘note’ it (please note that we do not use the terminology ‘approve’ in this process because the qualification already holds GOC approval).
For further information on the adaptation process, you can view our adaptation webpage.
Declaration of Closure form
To ensure the Education department have a clear understanding and oversight of provider plans for all existing handbook qualifications, we have developed the Declaration of Closure form with the expectation that providers will complete the form to evidence their plans for teaching out any iterations of a qualification(s) that will not be adapted to the ETRs. This form will also be available to complete for the closure, suspension or teaching out of any qualifications and not just for those adapting. Please find the Declaration of Closure form and accompanying guidance below: